Read, reflect, pray

Homage to the two Hitachi shrines

拝常陸両社詞ひたちのふたつのやしろをおがむことば

A prayer to Ōnamuchi and Sukunahikona at Ōarai Isosaki and Sakatsura Isosaki, praising their work in transmitting medicine and other arts.

English meaning and source text

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English meaning

About this English rendering

This site’s English rendering of the Japanese meaning guide, aligned with this edition. It is separate from the source words for recitation and is not an official liturgy. Sacred sounds are explained where possible, not given speculative literal translations. Historical beliefs, royal authority, illness and protection claims belong to the text; they are not present-day judgments, medical advice or guarantees of results.

Returning to dwell at Ōarai Isosaki Shrine in Kashima District, Hitachi Province,

and Sakatsura Isosaki Shrine in Naka District,

governing affairs of lands beyond,

and transmitting charms to ward off calamity and the arts of medicine: Ōnamuchi and Sukunahikona—

before these two kami,

with deep respect I offer distant homage.

Source text and reading aid

Roman letters are provided for every line of this source text.

How to use the Roman letters

Roman letters follow the kana displayed in this site’s Japanese reader; some readings are editorial additions documented on the Japanese page. These are a reading aid, not restored Sanskrit or a recording of a temple’s chanting. Historical spellings (such as wo, wi, we and ha used as a particle) are kept. Double vowels and repeated vowels mark the written kana; rhythm and pronunciation can differ by tradition.

You can simply read the meaning or sit quietly. No recitation is required. For a temple or shrine’s own recitation, follow that tradition’s published guidance.

本文（ほんぶん）

常陸國（ひたちのくに）鹿島郡（かづしまのこほり）大洗磯前社（おほあらひいそざきのやしろ）、

hitachinokuni kazushimanokohori ohoarahiisozakinoyashiro,

那賀郡（なかのこほり）酒列磯前社（さかつらいそざきのやしろ）に歸（かへ）り鎭座坐（しづまりまし）て、

nakanokohori sakatsuraisozakinoyashironi kaheri shizumarimashite,

外國々（とつくにぐに）の事（こと）掌給（とりたま）ひ、

totsukunigunino koto toritamahi,

禁厭（まじなひ）の術（わざ）と醫藥（くすり）の方（みち）とを傳給（つたへたま）ひし大名持神（おほなもちのかみ）少彦名神（すくなひこなのかみ）、

majinahino wazato kusurino michitowo tsutahetamahishi ohonamochinokami sukunahikonanokami,

二柱（ふたはしら）の御前（みまへ）を、

futahashirano mimahewo,

愼（つつし）み敬（ゐやま）ひ畏（かしこ）み畏（かしこ）みも遙（はるか）に拜（をが）み奉（たてまつ）る。

tsutsushimi wiyamahi kashikomi kashikomimo harukani wogami tatematsuru.

Connected kami and buddhas

These connections include figures addressed, mentioned, or associated by tradition. They do not assign a universal recitation practice.

Sources and edition (1)

国立国会図書館／内田芳兵衛 — 毎朝神拝詞記（平田篤胤編・平田鉄胤訂、1881年）・拝常陸両社詞

English explanations on this page were prepared by Inori no Mori from the cited text and its Japanese explanations. They are not an official translation or a prescribed liturgy.

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